Trouser presser



Feb. s, 1949. y l, F3. SQWERS 2,461,006

TROUSER PREssER Filed Feb. `24, 1945' Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITED srArss feATE-Nr ojFFlcEj f.

Ivan P. Sowers, Los Angeles, Calif.

yApplication February 24, 1945, Serial No. 579,538

This invention relates to devices for pressing and creasing mens trousers, womens slacks, and other wearing apparel, for pleating garments and for kindred uses, and is especially adapted to the hand-type of creasers or pressers which are provided with electrically heated pressing plates.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a desirably compact structure which shall be easy to assemble, smaller than usual and relatively simple andV elective, and shall insure against injury by the heating element to fabrics and to the hands of an operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hand-type creaser of the general nature indicated which may be readily actuated by the operators hand while being held thereby. A still further object of the invention is to provide a creasing and pressing device in which ahandle encloses and supports inner portions ofrpressing plates, and also encloses and supports an electrical heating element and means for moving the pressing plates relative to one another when placing the device upon fabrics to be pressed or creased.

An additional object and important feature of the invention is the employment of a handle construction containing the inner edges of creasing and pressing plates wherein actuating devices are carried within the handle for the purpose oi imparting the required relative movement to the plates, such movement being imparted to those plates by pressure of the operators ngersupon projecting portions ofthe mentioned actuating devices.

In a preferred form, .the hand-type of creasing and pressing appliance of this invention comprises a handle of adequate length to be grasped readily by the operator, and also ofadequate length to receive the inner portions of a pair of connected creasing and pressing plates, for which purpose a cavity is provided withinthe handle.

The connected portions of the plates are suitably retained as by means of a split spring sleeve and a housing of an electric heating element is conveniently employed as a means upon which to mount the inner portions of the plates.' The handle, in this preferred form; also receives actuating means, such as levers having portions eX.-

posed at the sides of the handle, for engagement. by the operators hand and having portions within the handle to engage and actuate the plates as by Contact with operating projections extending from the inner edges ofthe plates. A particular 11v Claims. (Cl. 2121-19) from the line-2 2 of Fig. 1;

y featurein this construction is the disposal pori tions ofv the ends of-the handles beyondl th'eends, of the pressing and creasing plates. to-provider abutments for fabric disposed between the plates whereby to keep suchfabric spaced from the. heating element towhich the inner portions of.' the plates are connected, whereby to avoid injury to the fabric by the high temperature of the heating elementr itself. 4

Other objects and .features of thekpresentin-` vention will become apparent to those "skilled-in; theart upon reference to the following specicar-f tion and accompanyingdrawing wherein a-'p're-.= ferred embodiment ofthe invention, is .Ydisclosed by way of illustration.v In the drawing, I Fig. 1 Vis in part a side elevation'and 'in part-af longitudinal vertical section through:l a creasing appliance constructed in -accordance with thein- 1l vention; f -s' Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section, taken Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are cross sections'taken ref spectively on the lines 3 3, 4-4, andi-Spf Fig 1; and l y *Y .;f..,. Fig. 6Vis a plan view of one of; the lever arms which actuate the creasing plates. These figures disclose an lelongatedhandle lll, which, in the form'shown, is composed of twofopei. posedelongat-ed handle members .'I2 in the form of similar bars together yielding a symmetrically: shaped contour. The handle I0 carries a pairlof' cooperatingcreasing and pressing plates'V I 4-whichl are adapted to be actuated by lever arms .,'I5..intoopen position for receiving a folded fabric, andA for the purpose of kheating the plates Mxan elec-v1 tric heating elementvIG is provided. I. The two handlev members I2 arerretained in operative position as-by means offtwo` or more countersunkfheaded screws 20 so that-two oppos-z' ing cavity portionsof the respective handle mem".

Y of the pressing plates I4 which proje'ctfinto ythe cavity 22 by way of a connectingchannel; 25 Y thereto from .the exteriorv of' 1the: handle,

semi-cylinder whereby to provide between their ends a narrow elongated space 28 to permit a corresponding amount of relative movement, as hereinafter described; The two curved members 26 are mounted upon a cylindrical bearing tube 30 which constitutes both ay housing for the electrical heating element I5 and a bearing for the members 26. The members 26 are bound upon the bearingtube 3 0 by means of a split spring sleeve l2v which embraces the members 26 and accommodates the vinner portions 24 connecting the plates I 4 to the members 26,

The split spring sleeve 32, together with the curved members 26 and the bearing tube 3tl-i constitute a mounting assembly which is conveniently retained within the cylindrical cavity 22 and supported by the lowerrnost wall portions.

thereof as seen in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. As best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the middle portion of the extreme edge of each of the curved members 26 isV providedwith `an upstanding'lugi 34 which projects upwardly throughan opening 'fin the upper michzlleVV portion of the splitV spring sleeve 32 and through-an opening 3S in the upper wal-l of the cylindrical cavity 22 into position for engagement with the middle portions. of the lever arms: 5'.

The liever arms t5 are elongated and are respectively seated in elongated slots lill in the two handleimembers t2 so that the outermost end portions 5a of the lever arms Il?. are normally protected intoslightly exposed' position, as best indicated h1 Fig. 2, where they maybe depressed by the ngers and tliumbI of an operator. Each lever arrn l5' is shouldered adjacent the end opposite from the portion I5a-, as. indicated at u', toprovide an' internal extension 44' of which its corner-'t5' serves asa tulcrum point which bears in a corresponding corner 46 provided each handle member k2- by an overlying ledge 48 comprising a Wall for a corresponding cavity receiving the extension $4 at one end of the corresponding'slot $0. At an intermediate position in each lever arm I5 a notch 52 sout in the under side ofthe lever arm:` to receive the opstanding lug 3E oi? the corresponding pressing and creasing plate ik whereby to Vactuate the latter againstrlthe tension 'of the split spring sleeve 32. In. the form shot-vn, this 52 er1-- tends` about. hatfway up through the respective lever arm E51 andi is also out into the inner wall it, thereof; inner ends of' the extensions te of' thotm lever arms 'E5 are desirably provided with heels fwhich conveniently engage eachother wlrierebyv to act mutually as stops which limit the outwardmovementV of the projectingV For the purpose of connecting the electrical heating element tu with electric current provided byV an electric supply line Slt andi a socket 6'2, a suitable terminal plug 61k is imbedded inthe ad@ jacent ends of the handle members i12 comprising thehandle Ht...

, Anfimportant-featureoil this improvement residesin saoffsettin'g end portions 55 of the handle members I2 which extend beyond the ends of the' plates Il that the oiset` portions lie beyond the. liner oi :the side wall ot the tube 3E containing the heating elem-ent I5, the purpose oi this oisettingbeing to. space fabric adequately from the tube 3112 in order to avoid' scorching of the Yfabric when placed between: the plates, Ik Thus,

distribution of heat from.. the heating element I6 by Way of' the' tube 30 to the fabric-:being 4 pressed or creased is produced only through the plates I4. Inasmuch as the handle members I2 and the lever arms i5 are made of insulating and non-heat conducting material, such as Bakelite,

these parts never become sufliciently hot to be annoying or injurious to the operators hand.

In using the pressing and creasing appliance of this invention, the socket 62 carried by the electric supply line Si) is connected with the plug E4 carried by the handle members i2, whereby the heating element 'i6 is energized to heat the tube 3i! and thereby transmit heat to the pressing and creasing plates li. When a satisfactory heating temperature has been attained, the operator grasps the handle Ill and presses either or both of the lever arms I5, especially along their projecting end portions 15a. By reason of the fulcruming of the lever arms I5 at the corners 4E, and their bearing upon the extremities of the actuating lugs 34, the plates I are separated and the folded fabric to be pressed is inserted. Both plates I4 being movable, or heating, easy placement and positive adjustment on the press line are. insured. The oiset extending portions 65 at the ends of the handle I0 serve as stops to limit the introduction of the fabric between the plates I4 and thereby act as spacers to prevent the fabric from contacting the hot tube 3i). With the heating element i3 of desirable capacity, the plates I4 under reasonable operating procedure will not become suiiiciently hot to injure the fabric. Having applied the device to the folded,

fabric the device is slowly slid along the fold, suiicientr time being allowed to produce the dcsired pressing andy creasing of each part of the fabric.. Or the. fabric may be pressed and creased by sections, as in the case of fragile materials, the lever arms, l being depressed to release thc fabric and the device progressively advanced -s along.v the fold until the desired creasing and pressing have been completed.

From the foregoing description of the construction and operation, it is apparent that the device ci this invention may be readily operated to move the presser and creaser along the folded fabric if. tion' here disclosed Will become apparent to those Within. said cavity in operative relation with and between said portions. of said fabric pressing plates Within said cavity, said handle beingT extended beyond said heating means at the opposite ends. of said plates sufficiently to engage fabric being pressed and prevent entrance of said fabric into said cavity and into engagement with said heating means when said plates are separated.

2. lincombination in a heated hand-type fabric presser: a handleenclosing a cavity; movable fab-- ric-pressing plates having portions disposed in said cavity, said plates extending from said c-avity; and means in said handle and projecting .therefrom to separate said plates, said plate-separating means including lever arms in opposite sides of said handle and respectively engaging said plates, said arms having inner ends ful crumed in said handle, opposite ends extending from said handle for manipulation by an operator, and intermediate portions in engagement with said plates.

3. In combination in a Presser: a handle enclosing a cavity; movable fabric-pressing plates having portions supported in said cavity, said plates extending from said handle and adapted to be moved to separated position; actuating lever arms carried in opposite sides of said handle, a portion of each arm being fulcrumed in said handle, an end portion being adapted to project from said handle for manipulation by an operator and a portion being adapted to engage the supporting portion of the respective plate; and means to urge said plates into pressing position.

4. A combination as in claim 3 including a heating means disposed within said cavity in operative contact with said supported portions of said plates, said handle providing portions extending beyond said heating means to serve as spacing means to prevent fabric being pressed between said plates from coming in contact with said heating means.

5. In combination in a hand-type presser: a handle enclosing a cavity; fabric-pressing plates having portions supported within said cavity, said plates extending beyond said handle into creasing position, one of said plates having plate-moving means; and a plate-actuating lever carried within said handle having a portion fulcrumed in said handle, a portion engaging said plate-moving means and a portion adapted to project from said handle for actuation by an operator.

6. A combination according to claim 5 including means for positively urging said plates into pressing relationship.

7. A combination according to claim 5 including heating means carried in said handle in opeiative relation with said supported portions of said plates, said handle providing spacing portions extending beyond said heating means for spacing fabric being pressed between said plates away from said heating means.

8. In combination in a creasing appliance: an elongated handle having therein an opening and an elongated cavity; fabric-creasing plates disposed outside said handle and having supported portions extending into said cavity and supported therein, one of said plates having means adapted to be engaged for movement thereof; and plateactuating means disposed in said opening in engagernent with said means on one of said plates, said plate-actuating means extending from said handle and being exposed for manipulation by an operator to actuate the respective plate, said opening comprising an elongated slot having a second cavity at the end thereof within said handle, and said actuating means comprising a lever Vlying in said slot in engagement with said means on one of said plates, said lever having a portion extending into said second cavity and fulcrumed therein.

9. In combination in a hand-type presser: a pair of opposed elongated handle members separably connected, said handle members being hollowed to provide between them an elongated cavity, each member having an elongated slot spaced trom said cavity; fabric pressing plates disposed outside of said handle members; supporting means carried within said cavity and connected with said plates to support said plates in said handle; operating means respectively connected with said plates and extending into said slots; and levers disposed in said slots in engagement with said operating means to actuate the latter, said levers being exposed through said slots for engagement by the hand of an operator.

l0. In combinationV in a hand-type presser: handle means having a cavity therein; fabricpre'ssing plates having pressing portions disposed outside said handle and supporting portions dis-r posed within said cavity; plate-actuating means carried by each of said plates and disposed within said handle means; opposing levers projecting through slots in opposite sides of said handle means, portions of said levers being dispo-sed within said handle means and portions being exposed through said handle means for actuation by an operator, said levers being respectively engaged with said actuating means on said plates; and means for limiting outward movement of said levers from said slots.

11. A combination according to claim 10 wherein said movement-limiting means comprises opposing heels on said levers, said heels .being in engagement with each other.

IVAN P. SOWERS.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS 

